Find out how popular the last name Marquette is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Marquette.

Marquette, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Marquette surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Marquette in America

Marquette is the 11804th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Marquette surname appeared 2,652 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Marquette.

We can also compare 2010 data for Marquette to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Marquette

The surname MARQUETTE originated in France during the medieval period, derived from the French word "marque," meaning "boundary" or "frontier." It was likely given to individuals who lived near a border region or worked as border guards or frontier officials.

The name can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of northern France, particularly in Normandy and Picardy. Early records show variations in spelling, such as Marquette, Marquette, and Marquette, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during that era.

One of the earliest documented references to the MARQUETTE surname can be found in the Trésor des Chartes, a collection of charters and documents from the French royal archives, dating back to the 13th century. This suggests that individuals bearing this name held positions of importance or had notable landholdings during that time.

Jacques MARQUETTE, a French Jesuit missionary and explorer, is perhaps the most renowned individual with this surname. Born in 1637 in Laon, France, he is famous for his exploration of the Mississippi River and the establishment of the first European settlement in Michigan, known as Sault Ste. Marie. He died in 1675 during his travels.

Another noteworthy figure was François MARQUETTE, a French nobleman and military officer who served in the Hundred Years' War during the 15th century. He was granted land and titles for his service to the French crown.

In the 18th century, Marie-Françoise MARQUETTE, a French playwright and author, gained recognition for her works, including plays and novels that shed light on the social and political issues of her time.

The MARQUETTE surname also has connections to certain place names in France, such as Marquette-lez-Lille and Marquette-en-Ostrevant, which may have derived from the name or vice versa.

Over time, the MARQUETTE surname spread beyond France to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas through French colonization and immigration. While the name retains its French origins, it has become more widespread and integrated into various cultures and societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Marquette

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Marquette.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Marquette was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Marquette has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Marquette was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Marquette, please contact us.

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